Copy holder for cameras



p 5; 1950 v. sussm 2,523,735

COPYHOLDER FOR CAMERAS Filed Jan. 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 QTTORWE Y5Sept. 26; 1950 v. sussm COPYHOLDER FOR CAMERAS Filed Jan. 15, 1948 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE N TOR 3 M 4; e W),

RTTORNEYS Patented Sept. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COPYHOLDER FOR CAMERAS Application January 15, 1948, Serial No. 2,521

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to copy holders used in photography to supporttransparencies or other objects for photographing; the inventionrelating more particularly to the arrangement, construction and mountingof the positive curtain assembly.

lThe purpose and function of a positive curtain is to prevent light frompassing through the copy holder to the camera except through thetransparency that is positioned in the holder to be photographed orphotographically copied. Sometimes only a single transparency is placedin the holder and at other times a group of transparencies are assembl dand placed in the holder to be photographed as a group. Accordingly itis desirable that the positive curtain be constructed in such manner asto be effective when either single transparencies, or assembled groupsof transparencies, varying widely in size, are to be accommodated, andit is a principal object of this invention to'provide a copy holderhavin a positive curtain assembly which makes it possible to usetransparencies or assembled groups of transparencies over a wider rangeof sizes than has been possible with copy holders of types heretoforeemployed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a copy holder with apositive curtain ass mbly which may quickly and easily be adjusted inorder to receive transparencies, or groups of transparencies, over awide range of areas anddimensions. The invention likewise provides apositive curtain assembly of the character described which is sturdy,durable and reliable in operation. and the arrangement, mounting andconstruction of which is simple and inexpensive.

In accordance with this invention the positive curtain assembly includesa roller at the bottom of the copy holder, a roller at the top of thecopy holder and two side rollers at the top of the copy holder somounted as to be movable bodily laterally of the copy holder, theseseveral rollers being storage rollers for curtains or shades. Togetherthe four curtains associated with these rollers define the light openingthrough the copy holder, the upper edge of the bottom shade defining thebottom of the light opening; the lower edge of the top shade definingthe top of the light opening; and the inner vertical edges of the sideshades defining the sides of the light opening. To make possible a lightopening of great width the side shades are so mounted that they can bemoved to positions in which their inner edges are closely adjacent thevertical side frame members in which position the side curtains orshades may project laterally f the frame of the copy holder. Thelaterally shiftable mounting of these shades also permits the lightaperture to be formed in any part of the opening of the copy holderframe and not'to be restrictedto any particular vertical course.

In order that a clearer understanding of this invention may be hadattention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings illustratingone embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a copy holder equipped with a positivecurtain assembly embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the two side curtains and their mounting;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view thereof and is taken on the line3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a side view of a fragment of the copy holder and thepositive curtain assembly.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

The copy holder includes an open rectangular frame having a bottom orbase frame member l, and vertical frame members 3 the tops of which areconnected by a horizontal cross member (not illustrated in detail). Thisframe as a whole is mounted upon a basewhich in turn slidably rests upona horizontal trackway comprising portion of a main frame 4.

The bottom of the opening defined. by the frame described may be coveredby a sheet 5 of opaque material, this sheet being adapted to be rolledupon a roller carried by brackets 6. The upper or free edge of the shadematerial is attached by any suitable means to a bar I which extendsbetween and slidingly rests against forward flange 8 of the copy holderside members 3. Any suitable means may be provided for locking this barI in its adjusted position of elevation, for instance, suitable boltsand wing nuts 9, the bolts extending through slots l0 formed in the sideframe flanges 8 of the copy holder frame and through the bar I and thewing nuts 9 being threaded upon the outer ends of the bolts.

Another shade or curtain ll of opaque material is mounted at the top ofthe copy holder opening and has its free edge fastened to a horizontalbar I2 which is similar to the bar I, and which bar similarly extendstransversely of the side frame members of the copy holder and. isadapted to be fastened thereto in various positions of adjustment bymeans of bolts and wing nuts !3, the bolts extending through slots 14 inthe side frame flanges 8 and through the bar 2. I Two brackets 15:mounted on the top of the copy holder frame-have depending portions H3which overhang and are spaced from-the front of the copy holder, thesebrackets being at or near the sides of the copy holder. Secured to andspanning these brackets is a bar I1, and an angle iron of the samelength has one flange l8 secured thereto as by means of screws 9. To theother and horizontal flange 29 of the angle iron is secured, as byscrews 2!, the web 22 of a channel member which has depending side walls23 and 24, the outer or lower ends of which are turned in as at 25 and26. This channel member may extend the full length of the angle iron andaccordingly the full width of the copy holder, or there may be twoaligned channel members at opposite sides of the copy holder,respectively.

The single channel member serves (or the two channel members serve) tomovably support two laterally aligned shades 21. Each of these shades issupported upon a roller carried by a pair of brackets 28 secured to theunderside of the base 29 of a horizontally disposed supporting bar B.Bar B, which in cross section resembles an inverted T, has a stem 30which projects upwardly between the flanges 25 and 26 of the associatedchannel member and into the interior of that member. This leg 30 of theT bar carries two pins 3| and on these pins are journalled rollers 32which rest and roll upon the inturned flanges 25 and 26 of the channelmember, these flanges thus comprising tracks.

The fabric of each of these side curtains is opaque and each curtain isprovided along its free edge with a bar 33 which has secured thereto atits center (Figure 2) or all the way across (Figure l), as by screws 34,a metal piece 33 which serves as a finger piece and as means foranchoring the free end of the shade to the bar I. To this end the metalpiece has a forwardly projecting finger flange 36 and an upturned hookportion 3'! which is adapted to be received within a downwardly openinggroove or channel 38 formed in the upper front edge portion of the barI. By means of this finger piece and recess 38 the shade may easily andquickly be locked to and unlocked from the bar 1, the tension in theroller spring maintaining the screen taut.

At its ends the two side walls of the channel track member may bemaintained in spaced relation by means of bolts 39 which also serve asstops which limit the outward lateral movement of the side shades, sincethe bolts prevent the rollers which ride on the trackways 25 and 26 frompassing by. When, instead of having a single trackway channel barextending entirely across the copy holder, two such bars are provided,one toward each side of the copy holder, a stop bolt 46 may also beprovided toward the inner end of each.

Preferably the rollers toward the outer ends of these side shadecarrying members are disposed somewhat inwardly of the outside edges ofthe shades to permit lateral movement of the shades to positions whereportions thereof project beyond and outside of the copy holder frame,and thus to permit a wider opening being made between the side shadesthan would be possible otherwise.

In using the copy holder and positive curtain assembly described thecross bars 1 and I2 are adjusted to the height of the transparency orassembled group of transparencies to be copied and the transparency orassembled group of transparencies are mounted between these bars so asto be supported thereby. The side curtains are then adjusted bodilylaterally so that their inner edges are in vertical alignment with theside margins of the transparency and are drawn down so as to span thespace between the bars I and I2 (as indicated in dotted lines inFigure 1) and their lower ends hooked to the lower bar '1, these sidecurtains being so adjusted that no light may pass by the sides of themounted transparency or assembled group of transparencies.

4 The side curtains may quickly and easily be unhooked from the bar 1and raised.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A copy holder of the character described and provided with a positivecurtain assembly, said curtain assembly including, in combination,alower shade, an upper shade, and a shade toward each side of the copyholder, said lower and upper shades being adjustable vertically todefine the elevation and vertical dimension of the light openingpresented through the copy holder, and the side shades being verticallyextensible and adjustable bodily laterally toward and from each other todefine the width of said light open- 2. A copy holder of the characterdescribed and provided with a positive curtain assembly, said curtainassembly including, in combination, a lower shade, an upper shade, and ashade toward each side of the copy holder, said lower and upper shadesbeing adjustable vertically to define the elevation and verticaldimension of the light opening presented through the copy holder, andthe side shades being vertically extensible and adjustable bodilylaterally toward and from each other to define the width of said lightopening and to locate the light opening laterally in any one of a numberof different places along the horizontal course of the light opening.

3. A copy holder and positive curtain assembly of the characterdescribed, including, in combination, an open copy holder frame, anupper and a lower copy holding bar disposed across the opening of saidframe and mounted for vertical adjustment thereon, said bars havingmeans for holding a transparency in spanning relation between them, anupper roller shade disposed across the top of said opening and mountedon said frame and having the free edge of the shade material securedalong said upper copy holding bar, a lower roller shade disposed acrossthe bottom of said opening and mounted on said frame and having the freeedge of the shade material secured along said lower copy holding bar, asupporting bar for side roller shades disposed across the top of thecopy holder opening and supported by the copy holder frame, meanssecured to the underside of said bar providing horizontal trackwaystoward each side of said copy holder opening, two laterally spacedroller shade carriers each having supporting rollers riding on saidtrackways toward opposite sides of the copy holder opening, and a rollershade supported from each of said carriers and adapted to be pulled downto span the vertical opening defined by said copy holder bars and bysaid upper and lower roller shades, said side roller shades beingadjustable bodily laterally toward and from each other on saidtrackways, and means for securing each side shade along its free edge tothe lower copy holding bar.

VICTOR. SUSSIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,813,689 Weisker July '7, 19311,927,693 Weisker Sept. 19, 1933 2,153,186 Henderson Apr. 4, 19392,186,610 Leavitt Jan. 9, 1940

